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Learn to Love Your Story - Encouragement for Today - May 29, 2014

This past winter, I stood in my kitchen laughing with one of my kids while picking hard macaroni out of the melted cheese in the crockpot. Apparently, noodles like to be boiled beforehand when making a slow cooker recipe for macaroni and cheese.

About the time I posted an Instagram picture of the dinner fiasco, I heard another daughter upstairs yelling for towels.

It took a minute for it to register why she was panicked. Then I saw the water leaking through my kitchen ceiling. Toilet water.

I ran. No, I flew upstairs yelling, "Turn that silver knob thing behind the toilet. Quick! Turn it so the water will shut off!"

I'd laughed about the noodles. I'd dealt with the toilet water. I'd gotten quite miffed with the couch situation.

Another day.

Another page in what makes this life ... my life ... a story.

Not so much like the stories of books and big screens.

Those stories are a little shiner and seemingly perfect.

Those moms probably don't have cellulite because they don't eat mac and cheese. Their kitchen ceilings don't have stains because ... well because their kids don't use too much two-ply toilet paper. And their couches don't sag beyond repair.

But I love my story. I love my story most of all.

Why? How?

Because I pre-decided that I would.

I decided I would look at it all through the lens of noticing the rich evidence of life through each mess and mishap.

Did I do it all perfectly? Nope, not at all.

But even if we choose to be noticers with thankful hearts just once today, we'll start to look at our stories in a different way.

A more beautiful way.

While carrying the wet towels downstairs, I saw a pile of my kids' shoes by the front door.

I remembered our key verse, Philippians 1:3, where Paul says "I thank my God every time I remember you." I have plenty of reminders each day to thank God for the people in my life. To rejoice over every piece of my story. Starting with those shoes.

So I whispered, "Notice. Be a noticer. See all the fun represented here and thank God for these moments."

Noticers see the lovely in front of them and learn to love their story.

What might happen if you pre-determined to look through the lens of lovely today?

Dear Lord, thank You for this message today. Help me be a noticer with a thankful heart no matter how messy my life (or house!) may appear to be. I'm choosing to rejoice in the imperfect beauty of all of it. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
1 Thessalonians 5:18, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (ESV)

Psalm 19:14, "May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." (NIV)

RELATED RESOURCES:
Learn more about being a noticer and loving those around you by following @LysaTerKeurst on Instagram where she posts pictures and inspirational quotes.

Be encouraged daily in your quiet time with Lysa's Unglued Devotional: 60 Days of Imperfect Progress. Click here to find out more!

Stay connected to Lysa throughout the week by subscribing to her blog. Click here to subscribe.

REFLECT AND RESPOND:
Think about an aspect of your life that often seems disorganized, frustrating or chaotic to you. Then, think of how this frustrating thing could actually be a blessing.

For example, the pile of shoes by Lysa's front door could have been the last straw for her on a day full of house malfunctions and hard situations with her kids. Instead, she chose to see the shoes as evidence of life and laughter in her home. Determine to find the beauty right there in the messy place!